Madison, Wis. – The Madison Mallards (1-1) fell to the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders (1-1), 5-3, on Wednesday night at Warner Park. The Mallards fall to .500, splitting the two-game opening week series with the Dock Spiders. Mallards starter Simon Rosenblum-Larson (Harvard) pitched a gem, holding Fond du Lac hitless into the fourth inning. However, the Fond du Lac offense sparked late against the Madison bullpen. Jett Manning (Alabama) and Cole Daily (Notre Dame) both drove in runs for the Mallards.

Rosenblum-Larson lasted 5.2 innings for Madison and posted an impressive line. The sophomore righty stuck out nine while allowing just three hits and a single run. The Mallards jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third when second basemen Nick Schrader (Western Illinois) scored a split-second before Manning was caught stealing second base for the final out of the inning.

The Mallards held the lead until the sixth when Rosenblum-Larson allowed a two-out RBI single by Dock Spiders catcher Collin Braithwaite. After the base knock, righty Andrew Buckley (California) relieved Rosenblum-Larson. Fond du Lac took the lead in the top of the seventh, scoring three runs.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Mallards mustered a rally as the first four batters of the inning reached base. Daily knocked in a run on a single. Then left fielder Tyler Williams (Arizona State) scored on a Manning groundout that ended up being a double play when Kian O’Brian (Madison College) attempted to score from second and was tagged out at the plate.

The Mallards ended up falling 5-3 after the Dock Spiders tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth. Reliever Zack Kesterson picked up the win for Fond du Lac while Buckley was tagged with the loss. The Dock Spiders Adam Eck earned the save.

The Mallards are back in action tomorrow night as they are set to take on the Lakeshore Chinooks at 6:35 PM at Warner Park for Delton Grand Wisconsin Dells Night. Gates are scheduled to open at 5:00 PM.